KINSTON, N.C. (May 30, 2026) – Axel Andueza delivered one of the best starts of his young professional career Friday night, tossing six shutout innings to lead the Down East Bird Dawgs to a 10-0 victory over the Ottawa Titans at Historic Grainger Stadium — the largest margin of victory in franchise history — as Down East clinched the six-game series with a 4-1 lead and improved to 9-11 on the season.

Down East wasted no time building a cushion, scoring three runs in the second as Ali LaPread scored on an error, Tyler Blaum drove in a run on a groundout, and Colby Backus added an RBI single to make it 3-0.

The Bird Dawgs broke the game open in the fourth, sending the lineup through and plating five more runs as Lyle Miller-Green drove in a run on a groundout, LaPread, Kalae Harrison, and Jacob Corson each singled in a run, and another scored on an error to push the lead to 8-0.

Harrison capped the scoring in the seventh with a two-run single to left to set the final at 10-0.

The Bird Dawgs collected 13 hits and picked up their largest margin of victory in Bird Dawgs history.

Andueza (1-2) was dominant throughout, taking down Ottawa on four hits with seven strikeouts and two walks across six spotless innings.

Kaleb Hill (1-2) took the loss for Ottawa, allowing eight runs — four earned — on nine hits over 3⅔ innings with four walks and two strikeouts.

The Bird Dawgs (9-11) look to close out the series with a sweep Sunday, May 31, at 4 p.m. ET at Historic Grainger Stadium.